About Benton REA

Benton Rural Electric Association is a not-for-profit, consumer-owned electric cooperative. Founded in 1937, Benton REA currently serves more than 11,000 members in portions of Benton, Yakima and Lewis counties in Washington state.

Benton REA is organized into eight districts. Each district is represented by a Benton REA member elected by the members to serve on the Benton REA Board of Trustees for a term of three years.

Since we are a not-for-profit cooperative owned by our members, any margins above operating costs belong to our members. Those net margins are annually allocated to the members as capital credits and returned to the members at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.

A photo of a co-op employee standing behind electric transformers
A photo of a man smiling at the camera
A photo of a young woman
A coffee shop owner wears and apron and leans on the countertop

Benton REA Mission

Our Mission at Benton Rural Electric Association, a member-owned and operated cooperative, is to provide affordable, and reliable energy and other member driven compatible services that enhance the quality of life for all of our members. Our mission will also provide a stable, safe, competitive career-oriented work environment for the Association’s employees. Our mission is being pursued through the highest ethical standards, using progressive marketing in conjunction with sound financial and management principles.

Benton REA service territory map

Benton REA Facts and Figures

As of 2021:

Benton REA Members11,471
Active Electric Accounts*15,494
Active PowerNET Internet Accounts1,610
Miles of Line1,792 (1,765 Distribution and 27 Transmission)
Density (Accounts per mile)8.68
Service Area

620 square miles in Benton, Yakima and Lewis counties

Substations19
2021 Peak Load134 MW
2021 Average Load71 aMW
Power SupplyBonneville Power Administration
Average Rate**7.2 cents per kWh
2021 Electric Revenue$42,669,607
2021 PowerNET Revenue$1,423,440
2021 Utility Plant$124,873,800 (Total), $78,647,988 (Net)
Full-time Employees

73

Ownership Credits Returned to Members in 2021

$1,793,260

Total Ownership Credits Returned to Members

$17,959,255

*Some members have multiple accounts

**Total kWh sales revenue divided by total kWh sold

A Nation-wide Network of Cooperatives

As a member of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Benton REA is one of more than 900 electric cooperatives in the United States, serving almost three-quarters of the nation’s landmass and 42 million members. To learn more about NRECA, visit www.electric.coop.

Benton REA is also a member of Touchstone Energy Cooperatives and proudly upholds the shared values of integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to the community. Benton REA is one of six Touchstone Energy electric cooperatives in the state of Washington.

Electric cooperatives were established to provide electricity to rural America, and now make up the largest electric utility network in the nation. Touchstone Energy is the national brand identity for that network. To learn more, visit www.TouchstoneEnergy.com.

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